The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abass, says the House will expose corruption and identify challenges hindering the implementation of the Great Green Wall (GGW).
He said the Green Chamber would also guide the new administration in the continued implementation of the policy which is crucial to both the well-being and the security of the nation.
The Speaker disclosed this Wednesday while declaring open investigative hearing on the Utilization of Ecological Funds Released to Great Green Wall.
He noted that this hearing was coming at a time of heightened public expectations, given the experiences with the management of public funds by agencies of government in recent times, which was threatening the development of the nation.
Abbas, however, assured that the investigative hearing was not for witch-hunting or score settling, adding that the parliament was only exercising its mandate as provided for by the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
The Speaker pointed out that the importance of the GGW project cannot be overestimated especially in view of the security problem facing the nation in the last two decades.
He recalled that the National Agency of the Great Green Wall was established by an Act of parliament in 2015 to implement the Nigerian component of the Great Green Wall program.
Abbas noted that, however, information emanating from the field does not seem to reflect an optimal implementation of this noble program despite the numerous funds available for its implementation.
He stressed that in view of the utmost place the project occupies, the parliament provided numerous funding sources including the Ecological Fund of the Federation established to provide resources for protecting the country’s natural environment and funding repairs and developments necessary to prevent harm, the Natural resources funds
Worried by this development, the Speaker noted that the 10th parliament deliberated on the issue and resolved to set up an Ad-hoc Committee to investigate.
Abbas stated: “The objectives of this investigative hearing are: gather data to ensure the program is optimally implemented, identify challenges affecting the execution of the project, to expose corruption, and guide the new administration in the continued implementation of this policy which is crucial to both the well-being and the security of our nation.
“Furthermore, expenditures of public funds and ensuring such expenditures are in line with this hearing fulfills the parliamentary responsibility to set down rules and of public interest.
and annual budgetary provisions, not forgetting donations from both domestic and international donor agencies, from the ecological fund office for the GGW projects.”
Earlier, the Ad-Hoc Committee Chairman, Hon. Isma’ila Dabo, said in recent years, the country has witnessed a significant upsurge in natural environmental challenges such as land degradation, deforestation, desertification, and drought.
He added that projects such as the GGW under investigation were designed primarily to address some of these issues.
Dabo noted that the persistence of these challenges despite funds put into the programme from both the federal government and international partners has necessitated this investigation.